After 42 years, McDonald’s takes shamrock shakes nationwide

McDonald’s may have dumped the pink goo, but it’s adding an even brighter color to its menu. The fast food giant will sell leprechaun-green shamrock shakes at 14,000 of its U.S. restaurants, according to CNN Money. The shakes have been around for a long time but haven’t been a chain regular until now.

The shamrock shake itself isn’t new. It’s been offered by McDonald’s restaurants at or around St. Patrick’s Day since 1970. But in the past, only certain restaurants offered the familiar green shake.

In its 42 years of existence, the shamrock shake has developed what McDonald’s refers to as a “cult-like” following among certain aficionados who prize its vivid-green hue.

So where does the shamrock shake gets its color? It’s basically a vanilla shake with mint flavor, said (spokeswoman Ashlee) Yingling, and it gets the green hue from the syrup.